Method and system for playing a table game

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for playing a game similar to ping-pong where a ball is bounced from one table surface to another table surface that is distinctly separated from the first. The distance between the table surfaces may be increased to increase the difficulty of the game. This may occur in between games, or progressively during a game. The table surfaces are preferably round and may be supported by unitary posts ballasted by weight or screwed into the ground.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. of provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 60/608,165 filed Sep. 9, 2004 (09/09/2004).

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of playing a table game, inparticular to the field of playing a game by striking a ball off of atable surface to another, as in table tennis.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Table tennis, also known as “ping pong”, is a game that is very wellknown, involving using a paddle to strike a ball from one side of atable to the other. The table is divided into two sides by a net passingacross the middle of the table. It can be played with two players, or asa team game with up to four total players.

Different shapes and designs of tables have been proposed to increasedifficulty. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,622,156 to Pugsley the net has beenremoved completely and the table surface has been split into twosections, each of a rounded, triangular shape. The surfaces remainjoined to each other by a connecting device attached to a leg from eachtable surface and so are not fully disconnected. The game is playedacross a gap present between the two joined table portions.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,619 to Cooper depicts a rectangular playing tablesurface having two portions joined by bridge members and-provided withelevation means within the legs so that these two playing surfaces maybe angled slightly upwards towards each other forming a shallow “V”formation. No playing surface is present between these two portionswhere the bridging members extend.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,900,022 to Maggio depicts a rectangular playing tablesurface divided into two portions joined by bridge members and having asoft sponge or net present between the two separated portions. Thisprovides a region between the two table portions which is not playable.

There still remains a need to further increase the difficulty andchallenge of the typical table tennis game. This invention addressesthat need.

The invention in its general form will first be described, and then itsimplementation in terms of specific embodiments will be detailed withreference to the drawings following hereafter. These embodiments areintended to demonstrate the principle of the invention, and the mannerof its implementation. The invention in its broadest and more specificforms will then be further described, and defined, in each of theindividual claims, which conclude this Specification.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The “Island Pong”-™ game of the invention provides a new experience inthe field of table tennis. The game-playing surface comprises at leasttwo portions, preferably circular, which are respectively mounted onindependent supports that allow the playing surfaces to be separatedfrom each other. Such playing surfaces may be fully disconnected fromeach other. Further, such playing surfaces may or may not lie in acommon plane. This provides a number of consequences.

No net is required to divide the table playing surface portions; the gapseparating the respective perimeters of the table surface portionsdefines a no-play zone in a manner similar to a net. The ability toseparate the playing surfaces introduces a new challenge to the game.Increased separation reduces the effective target area, while providingmore time for players to respond that while the ball is in transit.Being circular, the remote, central, a outer edges of the playingsurfaces become more prominent as targeted areas because hitsso-directed provide a lengthened target area that is more tolerant ofaccuracy errors. Eventually, at substantial separations, transit timedelays become more nearly akin to those occurring in tennis, changingthe dynamic of the game. In these respects, a playing experiencedistinctly different from that of traditional “Ping-Pong” is created.

An additional convenience is created through the use of two circularplaying surface portions of identical diameters. Such portions may bemoved and stored individually more conveniently than a single,monolithic, table surface portion. Being circular, they it may also bemoved and stored more conveniently than table surface portions in theform of a regular or polygonal surface. By reason of their circulardimensions, such surfaces may be conveyed by rolling them on theircircumferential edges.

According to one variant, the outer perimeters of the respective tablesurfaces may be placed approximately contiguously to each other,separated by a moderate gap, in order to allow the players to commenceto play a game of table tennis. The table surfaces together with theirsupports may then be further separated to permit the game to be playedwith a larger gap present between the playing surfaces, and the processrepeated. This separation may be adjusted during or between the playingof a game and may preferably be enlarged to provide a gap between theplaying surfaces which is equal to, twice, three times or more in sizethan the width of an individual circular playing surface portions. Forthe purposes of creating a separation between the table playingsurfaces, no interconnection need be present between such playingsurfaces other than through the floor or ground surface upon which theyrest.

By reason of the absence of an interconnection between the playingsurfaces, it becomes possible to play the game with an interveningobstacle present in the gap separating the playing surfaces. Thus, whenplayed indoors, a piece of furniture may be present in such gap.Preferably, such an obstacle would not protrude significantly above theplane within which either of the separated playing surfaces lie. Thisallows the playing tables to be set up in rooms that otherwise would notbe large enough to accommodate a traditional Ping-Pong table.

The playing surface portions may be supported in various manners. Thiscan include three or more individual legs, a pedestal, or even anavailable support surface such as a piece of furniture. Embodimentswhich include legs may include means whereby each leg is foldable into acompact position against the underside of the playing surface.

Another embodiment of the game system may rely on support means in theform of a pair of posts, either to be inserted into a weighted base, orwith a threaded base end to be screwed into the ground. The playingsurfaces are then respectably mounted on the top of each post.

In use, according to one embodiment, the invention addresses a methodfor playing a game comprising the steps of providing at least a pair ofplayers each with a paddle for striking a ball, providing at least twotables that are disconnected from each other each having a playingsurface, positioning such surfaces a predetermined distance apart whichdistance is at least greater than 12 inches, more preferably the widthof each table surface portion, whereby the players may engage in playinga game of table tennis using their respective paddles to strike the balltowards the opposite player's table playing surface. Optionally, eachplayer may be replaced by a team consisting of multiple players for eachside of the table.

In a further embodiment, as indicated above, the method of the inventionmay further comprise the step of increasing the difficulty of the gameby increasing the distance of separation between the tables. This mayoccur either in distinct stages between games, or while the game is inprogress.

The foregoing summarizes the principal features of the invention andsome of its optional aspects. The invention may be further understood bythe description of the preferred embodiments, in conjunction with thedrawings, which now follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTON OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the game system based on the use of twotables.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a table having singular leg in the form of asupport post with a base end shaped to screw into the ground,

FIG. 2A is a side view of a table having singular leg in the form of asupport post with a base end shaped to engage with a weighted basesimilar to a patio table.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the game system based upon the use oftwo tables erected with an intervening object present between the twotables.

FIG. 4 is a top view of one of the tables.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a table from FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the table from FIG. 5 with the legs folded.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows the game system for the preferred embodiment of theinvention. The apparatus for playing the game is preferably composed ofa pair of tables 12, a ball 14, and two paddles 16. As shown in FIG. 1,when playing a two-player game, only two paddles 16 are required, butfor a team game with four players, a paddle 16 is used for each personplaying. The tables 12 are separated from each other with no net beingpresent.

The game may also be played with an intervening object, such as a sofa13, present between the two tables 12 as in FIG. 3. Preferably, nointervening object should protrude between the two tables 12 above thelevels of the playing surfaces 20.

Each table 12 as shown in FIGS. 1-6 comprises a playing surface 20. Atypical diameter for a circular playing surface would be 48 inches at anadjustable height above the ground, preferably 30 inches. The tables 12as depicted each include their own support means, shown in the preferredembodiment as three legs 18. More than three legs 18 can be used, or asingular leg in the form of a support post 19, with either a base end 15shaped to screw into the ground 16, FIG. 2, or shaped to engage with aweighted base 17 similar to a patio table, FIG. 2A, in order to keep thetable 12 stabilized. Yet another option would be to use a separate,pre-existing table as support means and merely rest the playing surface20 upon it.

FIG. 6 depicts the legs 18 folded against the underside surface of thetabletop 20. This allows for the legs 18 to be folded along theunderside of the playing surface 20 so the table 12 can be easily movedto a new location.

In use, the tables 12 are positioned a set distance apart, preferably atthe commencement of the game by a minimum of typically around half atable diameter, e.g. 2 feet of separation, or further if desired,although a shorter intervening gap may be employed initially. As theplayers grow more skilled and wish to increase the difficulty of thegame, the tables 12 may be separated even further, either between games,or progressively during the course of a game. With the tables 12separated 8 or 10 or 12 feet apart or more, for example, the time thatthe ball 14 is in the air is increased, allowing for more time to set upa return shot.

Conclusion

It is understood that suitable modifications and equivalents may be madewithout departing from the spirit of the invention. The foregoing hasconstituted a description of specific embodiments showing how theinvention may be applied and put into use. These embodiments are onlyexemplary. The invention in its broadest, and more specific aspects isfurther described and defined in the claims, which now follow.

These claims, and the language used therein, are to be understood interms of the variants of the invention that have been described. Theyare not to be restricted to such variants, but are to be read ascovering the full scope of the invention as is implicit within theinvention and the disclosure that has been provided herein.

1. A method for playing a game comprising the steps of: a) selecting atleast a pair of players and providing each player with a playing paddle;b) providing at least two table playing surfaces that are disconnectedfrom each other and positioning such surfaces on supports so that suchsurfaces are a predetermined distance apart, the playing surfaces eachhaving an inner edge portion that is opposed to the inner edge portionof the other table surface and each having an outer edge portion that isremote from the outer edge portion of the other table surface; and c)positioning the respective players using a paddle to strike a balltowards the opposite players table surface, whereby a gap exists betweenthe two disconnected playing surfaces and the players engage in playingthe game by causing the ball to pass back and forth over the gap.
 2. Themethod for playing a game as claimed in claim 1, further comprising thestep of increasing the difficulty of playing the game by increasing thedistance between the table playing surfaces progressively during play.3. The method for playing a game as claimed in claim 1, furthercomprising the step of increasing the difficulty of playing the game byincreasing the distance between the table playing surfaces between eachgame.
 4. The method for playing a game as claimed in claim 1, furthercomprising the step of placing a piece of furniture between therespective table playing surfaces.
 5. The method for playing a game asclaimed in claim 1 wherein the playing surfaces are circular.
 6. A gameapparatus for use by players a ball and paddle comprising at least twoseparated table playing surfaces and a support means, each table playingsurface being disposable in a generally horizontal plane with a gap inpresent their-between, wherein the table playing surfaces aredisconnected from each other so that they can be further separated fromeach other by a chosen distance to permit players to engage in playingthe game by causing the ball to pass back and forth over the gap.
 7. Thegame apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the support means for eachtable playing surface includes a singular post inserted into a weightedbase.
 8. The game apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the supportmeans for each table playing surface includes a singular post with athreaded base end to screw into the ground.
 9. A game apparatus as inclaim 6 wherein said table playing surfaces are circular in shape, eachhaving circular perimeters.
 10. A game apparatus as in claim 7 whereinsaid table playing surfaces are circular in shape, each having circularperimeters.
 11. A game apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said tableplaying surfaces are circular in shape, each having circular perimeters.